2 Samuel 23:13-39    (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 23:13-39.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

2 Samuel 23:13-17 (NIV) 
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 
14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 
15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 
16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. 
17 “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

On verses 13-17:  David is hiding in the cave of Adullam.  He expresses a desire that someone get him a drink of water from a well near the gate of Bethlehem, which was occupied by the Philistines.  Who knows if this was just a passing wish or a deep, heartfelt desire, but David’s famous three warriors – Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah – took David’s request seriously.  So much so that “the Three” break through the Philistine camp just to get water from the well that David spoke of and carry the water back to David.

David is so touched by the Three’s willingness to risk their lives just to satisfy his wish for water.  He feels it would be taking their courage and love for granted if he drank that water.  Instead, he pours it out before the Lord as a worship offering.

Why did David pour this water out on the ground instead of drinking it?  Wasn’t that a waste of water, not to mention a waste of the Three’s efforts?  No.  David realized that the water he held in his hand was no ordinary water.  The water in his hand had become immeasurably precious because three of David’s mightiest warriors risked their lives to get it.

David did not feel it was right or appropriate for him to drink this water and to accept this sacrifice for himself.  Instead, by pouring it out, he was offering it to God, as if to say, “God alone is worthy of this kind of sacrifice.”

What can we learn from this?  Two lessons.  First, never take for granted the way others sacrifice themselves for you.  That includes the Lord Jesus, who broke through enemy lines and gave his life so that you could have living water.  That includes the people in your life who have given of themselves sacrificially so that you would be blessed.  Treasure the ways they put your interests ahead of their own.

Second, some things are too precious for us to keep for ourselves.  Some gifts we receive are so great that the only appropriate thing to do is to offer them to God.  Don’t keep what is most precious for yourself.   Give what is most precious in your hand to God.  That’s always the best use of the treasure God has given you.

2 Samuel 23:18-19 (NIV) 
18 Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 
19 Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

On verses 18-19:  Abishai was Joab’s younger brother.  Joab was a bigger talker and more charismatic than Abishai, but Joab was also much more selfish and ruthless.  Though Joab initially rose up as the more prominent, “successful” leader, in the end Abishai was included among the Thirty and even became commander of the Thirty, whereas Joab is not even mentioned among David’s mighty men.  

Abishai turned out to be one of David’s best team players, and at the same time no one in David’s army is credited with more individual military accomplishments than Abishai.  What can we learn from this?  Team success and individual success go hand in hand.  When you play hard not just for yourself but for your team, your team will accomplish more and you will accomplish more than if you had only focused on yourself.

2 Samuel 23:20-23 (NIV) 
20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 
21 And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 
22 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 
23 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

On verses 20-23:  Benaiah was famous for killing a lion (v20) and an Egyptian (v21).  Scripture sometimes uses the lion as a picture for Satan (e.g. 1 Peter 5:8) and the Egyptian as a picture for the world (e.g. Revelation 11:8).

Just as Benaiah boldly defeated the lion and overcame the Egyptian, Jesus defeated Satan and overcame the world.  As children of God, through our faith in Christ we have overcome Satan and the world too (see 1 John 2:13-14 and 5:4-5).

2 Samuel 23:24-39 (NIV) 
24 Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem…
39 and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

On verses 24-39:  Notice that David’s mighty men came from different backgrounds, yet they all served with courage and excellence toward one common goal: the protection and expansion of David’s kingdom.  You too are among those whom Jesus the Son of David has selected to help protect and expand His territory.  Like David’s thirty, may you fight for Jesus courageously and serve Him with excellence.

Finally, it is appropriate that Uriah the Hittite, who fought valiantly for David and yet was murdered by David, was included among David’s mighty men (v39).  No one gave up his life for David quite the way Uriah did.  It is fitting that he was honoured after his death for his sacrifice.

Father, thank You for all the mighty men and women You have used in my life, people who gave themselves sacrificially so that I could have living water and be well protected.  May I never take their Christ-like sacrifices for granted.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

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